This thesis examines mothers’ risk perceptions and protective actions as they relate to their children’s environmental health. Children are more exposed and vulnerable than adults to environmental hazards, which have been found to be associated with numerous immediate and long-term negative health outcomes, due to physiological and behavioural factors. Despite the responsibility mothers typically bear as primary caregivers to their children, little is known about how they perceive and negotiate these risks in their day-to-day lives. To better understand mothers’ perceptions and associated protective actions across socioeconomic and geographic contexts, a mixed-method approach was employed involving a quantitative telephone survey (n=606) in Peel Region and Ottawa Public Health Units and qualitative face-to-face interviews (n=15) in Ottawa. Risk perceptions were influenced by income and perceived control, and concerns ranged from chemicals in household products to outdoor air pollution. There was a commonly reported perception that mothers should automatically become more concerned and take protective actions once they have children. When financial or other barriers prevented mothers from taking direct action to reduce risks, such as switching to safer products or changing food habits, they may have relied on emotion-focused coping techniques to reduce feelings of concern, including choosing to ignore risk information. Mothers’ information sources were examined to understand how risk information is best internalized; while the most common source of environmental health risk information was the Internet, many mothers expressed their mistrust in it and would have preferred to receive information directly from healthcare providers. This research contributes to the understanding of risk perception and protective action in a largely understudied population and the findings have practical implications for risk management and communication strategies targeting pregnant women and new mothers.

This research deals with the topic of violent crime in urban Colombia. Although many references are made to the conflict between the State, guerrilla groups and paramilitary organisations in rural areas, and to the problem of drug-cartels and illegal-drug production, the main aim of the thesis is to show recent trends in violent crime and discuss citizen security strategies followed during the decade of the 1990s. Chapter 1 focuses on urban homicides. In Colombia, 40 percent of the 25,000 annual homicides are committed in the ten largest cities. The cities of Medellin, Bogota and Cali account for almost 30 percent of this total. Although the victims are mainly young men from the poorest socio-economic levels, homicides are not necessarily correlated to the areas where the poor live. The probability of getting involved in a homicide, either as a victim or as victimiser, is significantly higher in places where access to economic resources is greater. Chapter 2 analyses the problem of kidnappings. The chapter looks at recent progresses in Colombian anti-kidnapping legislation and focuses on the authors, the victims and the riskzones where most cases take place. Although these crimes affect mainly the rich and the middle class, kidnappers have recently started to target victims from all social backgrounds. This strategy creates fear among citizens and permits kidnappers to extort more fees from people who could be at risk of being kidnapped. Chapter 3 looks at the issue of perception and fear of crime. This question provides a better understanding of the concept of risk and the subjectivity of decision-making when facing insecurity. If citizen security strategies have had little impact during the last decade, it has been partly because of poor levels of co-operation and communication with the population. The consequence of this has been an increasing perception of insecurity and distrust among citizens. Chapter 4 assesses citizen security strategies followed during the administrations of Presidents Gaviria (1990-1994), Samper (1994-1998) and Pastrana (1998-2002). The reforms implemented since the adoption of a new Constitution in 1991 have had important impacts on security strategies as they have given more discretionary powers to civilian authorities, especially at the municipal level. Larger cities like Bogotá, Cali and Medellin, implemented a series of successful programmes that have reduced the levels of violent crime, notably homicides. Other crimes, like kidnappings, have not decreased since the government has lacked a coherent strategy to combine its peace negotiations with insurgent organisations with its legitimate right to fight violent crime.

This thesis examines how residents perceived and coped with storm surge flooding in Tsawwassen, British Columbia. On February 4, 2006 the community experienced a storm surge flood that affected residents within the neighbourhoods of Beach Grove and Boundary Bay Village. This study identifies how residents perceived and coped with the flood, and what factors influenced how individuals perceived and coped. Qualitative methods were used for this study, and a total of 23 in-person interviews were completed. The findings of this research showed that how participants perceived the threat of storm surge flooding and how they coped with the flooding varied greatly. Government intervention; the influence of family, friends and neighbours; the perceived benefits of living in the area; experience; financial support; and perception of other hazards all influenced how the participants perceived and coped with the storm surge flood.

国立情報学研究所で電子化したコンテンツを使用している。

Thesis (M.A.)--University of Canterbury, 2007. / Typescript (photocopy). Includes bibliographical references (leaves 121-131) Also available via the World Wide Web.

Thesis (M.Soc.Sc. Psychology)--University of Waikato, 2007. / Title from PDF cover (viewed March 4, 2008) Includes bibliographical references (p. 127-137)

Diss. Stockholm : Handelshögskolan, 2005.

Thesis (M.S.)--Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, 1991. / Vita. Abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 68-70). Also available via the Internet.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Oregon, 2007. / Typescript. Includes vita and abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 171-178). Also available online in Scholars' Bank; and in ProQuest, free to University of Oregon users.

Thesis--PlanA (M.S.)--University of Wisconsin--Stout, 1998. / Includes bibliographical references.